Enjoying the world through culture, food & drinks!

Top 3: Seoul, South Korea

I recently had a friend write me to ask for my top three things to do in Seoul. He had browsed my blog knowing that I went to Seoul this spring but found no general travel info (other than the awesome cooking class post HERE). It’s true. This spring/summer has been a whirlwind and I haven’t gotten around to blogging more about my Seoul trip.

So here it is: My Top 3 for Seoul, South Korea!

Locks of Love – Seoul

1. Seoul Tower/Locks of Love.I seriously thought this was going to be über-cheesy. But the view alone over the city is worth it. We went up a little before sunset so we got to take pictures with daylight and at dusk. We didn’t go up the Seoul tower but just walked around the area at the foot of it. There is a gift shop, restaurant, coffee shop, and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view (or a picnic if you planned well enough!). You can take a cable car to the top of the mountain (which we did) or there are walking paths up to it. Don’t forget to bring a lock to leave behind!

Near Seoul Tower at dusk

2. Nanta Show.
This is a long running show in Seoul and for good reason. It’s Stomp-esque but they use kitchen knives, pots and more to make the beats. They engage the crowd as they work to get the meal complete for the wedding party. There are several theaters showing Nanta around Seoul. We went to the Chungjeongno which is the biggest theater.Location: Various locations; Click on Nanta Show link above.

We learned to make kimchi at Kimchi World

3. Food, food, & more food!
Koreans take their food very seriously. From street food to restaurants and coffee shops, their passion for good food is evident. We definitely only grazed the surface of this delicious cuisine but here were a few of our favorites from our short time there.

Stone bibimbop Cooking ClassCredit: L. Cordes

O’ngo Food Communications
They offer cooking classes and food tours. You can check out my blog post on the cooking class or head to their website for the full offerings.Location: Jongno-gu, Nagwon-dong 55-1 3rd Floor, Seoul, Korea

Green tea latte with green tea tiramisu at O’sulloc

O’sulloc Tea House
This tea shop is famous for good reason. Stop for an afternoon tea/pick-me-up here. Their desserts were amazing. I got the matcha tiramisu. Heavenly!
*Note: Seoul in general has a lot of tea and coffee shops. They have unique offerings that I haven’t seen many places. Plus most have free wifi making it great to check-in if needed.Location: Cheonghwi Bldg. 1st Fl.; 33-1, Myeong-dong 2(i)-ga; Jung-gu, Seoul

Enjoying some street food in SeoulCredit: L. Cordes

Street Food
Quite possibly my favorite part of Seoul. I could just eat my way all around! Topokki, hot and spicy rice cake, were my favorite. Another good choice is ho-ddeok, or Korean pancakes on the go.Sanchon – Korean Temple Food

The many vegetarian dishes of Sanchon

Sanchon – Korean Temple Food
This was definitely an unique experience for Seoul. It wasn’t cheap at about $60 per person for the set meal but you will NOT leave hungry. There was so much food that we actually felt bad sending it back. The setting was tranquil and pleasant. And where can I please find these lotus flower lanterns?!?Location: 14 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Kyotofu
Yes, we live in Japan so Japanese cuisine probably shouldn’t have been on our list but I’ll be honest, we went for the desserts. They had some unique combinations such as chocolate cake with miso caramel. Their overall food was delicious as well.Location: Various locations; Click Kyotofu link above.